Indicator for liquid dispensing apparatus



Oct.- 19, 1937." BJJ. PEPPER. 2

INDICATOR FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July :5, 1933 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 19, 1937.

dlfll B. J. PEPPER CATOR FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Fi lllll 1y 5, 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 19, 1937. B, J, PEPPER 2,096,261

INDICATOR FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 3, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 hi [/5- j 1 ill)? (X Ems-6 5 E j/FA' I 2 51 Mqlf Oct. 19, 1937. B. J. PEPPER INDICATOR FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July s, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 4 jNV ENTOR.

% I ATTORNEY Oct, 19, 1937. a. J. PEPPER 4 INDICATO R FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 3, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

A THLQNE E11 Oct. 19, 1937. a. J. PEPPER 4 2,095,261

INDICATOR FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 3,}933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 X INVIENTOR.

Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nvmcA'ron FOB LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 'Byron J. Pepper, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Tokheim.0il Tank and Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Application .Iuly e, 1933, Serial No. 678,893 Claims. (01. 235- 144) This invention relates to improvements in in dicators for liquid dispensing apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide automatically-operated mechanismfor indicating, in

units of measurement and fractional parts thereof, the quantity of liquid as it is delivered by the dispensing apparatus. Another feature is the provision of a manually-operated device for .conveniently resetting the pointers on the indicating mechanism back to the zero or starting point;

Afurther object is to afford means, operable by the liquid meter or other measuring mechanism of the dispensing'apparatus, for positively actuating the pointers of the indicating mechanism. And a still further object is to afford in conjunction with a primary indicator a secondary indicator with operating shafts connected with cor-. responding shafts of the primary indicator to be structure shown in Fig. 1, portions being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of mechanism;

Fig. 3A is a detail front view of an adapter for mounting one of the indicatingpointers on the mechanism;

Fig. 3-B is a detail view of a part in the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3--C is another detail view of another part shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a front face view of a notched wheel forming part of the struc-,

ture;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the operating mechanism for the indicator, portions being broken away and the parts as disposed in starting position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the resetting mechanism with the actuating pawl in engaging position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the resetting mechanism showing the parts as disposed at an intermediate point of operation;

the indicating I Fig. 8 is another similar view of the resetting mechanism with the parts disposed at the stop period of operation Fig.- 9 is a detail view showing an elevation of the gear mechanism by which the pointers of the indicator are actuated;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of a dispensing apparatus showing a modified form I of\ the resetting device, portions being broken away; and e Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevation projected from Fig. 10, parts being in section.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of mechanism applicable to'a liquid dispenser (not shown) such as ordinarily is used for delivering gasoline in measured quantities, and includes a counter for automatically indicating the units of measurement and fractions gresses; an integrating register operably associated' with the counter; and a manually-operated back-set mechanism for the counter, all of which are preferably encased in the dispenser housing I.

l The counter a The mechanism of the counter is provided with a primary frame 2 and secondary frame 2' thereof as delivery from the dispenser prooppositely disposed, said frames being held spaced apart by a connecting plate 3. The frame 2 has members 4 and 5 in which is journaled the hub 6 of a drive gear I. The member 4 consists of a stationary sleeve upon which is journaled a follow gear 8 the hub of which extends through a dial 9 on the front of the frame 2 and has secured thereon a unit-indicating pointer ID that rotates in front of 'the dial upon rotation of the gear 8.

-A drive shaft l l is disposed axially in the gear I and is provided at its outer end with a head l2 which is firmly secured thereon and the hub of which extends loosely through the unit pointer l0 into the adjacent end of the hub 6 of the gear I in which it has relative turning movement. The opposite end of the drive shaft] i, extends loosely through the rear end of the hub 6 and has secured thereon a notched wheel l3. Upon the drive shaft ll within the hub 6 of the gear 1 are disposed a friction collar [4 and a compression spring I5,- the spring being compressed between the hub of the head l2 and the friction collar so that said friction collar is constantly pressed against a shoulder IS in the rear end of the hub 6 and the hub is correspondingly pressed against the notched wheel l3. By this arrangement rom movement is imparted to the at. shaft u as thedrive gear 1 is actuated. and back-turning movement of the drive shaft relativeto the hub 6, opposed by frictional restrainhis permitted.

Upon the outer end of the head I2 is secured a fraction indicating pointer I! that rotates in front of the unit indicating pointer II and the dial upon rotation of the drive shaft II. as the gear I is. rotated corresponding movement is imparted to the drive shaft H through the medium'of the spring-compressed collar. ll.

In the frame 2 isjournaled the hub l8 of a second drive gear 19 in which is axially disposed a second drive'sliaft "that has firmly secured upon its forward end a pinion 2| the hub of which extends intothe adjacent end of the hub on the I drive gear l9 and in which'it has relative turning movement. The opposite end of the drive shaft 20 extends loosely through the rear end of the hub 8 and has secured thereon a collar 22. Upon said drive shaft 20, within the'hub I8, of the gear-,

l9 are disposed a friction collar 23 and a compression spring 21, the spring being compressed. between the hub on the pinion 2| and said friction collar 23. so that said'collar is constantly pressed against a shoulder 25 in the rear end of thehub 18. The pinion 2| meshes wi the gear 8 so that upon rotation of the drive aft 20 the gear-8 is actuated'and the unit poi r rotated accordingly. As the drive gear I915 r ted corresponding movement is imparted to the drive shaft 20- through the medium of the springpressed friction collar 23.

The drive gears and llare individually actuated by corresponding worm wheels I and I9 that are secured upon a rotatable shaft 26 that usualpractiee.

is jo'urnaled' in the frame 2.. (Figs. 5 and 9).

The lower end of said shaft has a coupling 21 secured thereon for connection with a meter or measuring device of a dispensing apparatus (not shown) -as by'a stem or connecting rod 28 so that upon rotation thereof by the meter or measuring device the shaft 26 is correspondingly actuated. Thus, movement is imparted to the drive shafts II and 20 through the medium of the worm wheelsl' and-l9 and the corresponding drive gears I and IS. The gearratios between then respective worm wheels and their complemental gears are such as may be required. As an example, in the present instance the unit pointer ill, upon making-one complete revolutionthereby indicates a total of twenty units (gallons) of liquid to have been dispensed, while the frac-- tional pointer l1 makes one complete revolution for each one of the units indicated by the other pointer. Accordingly, in such instance the dial" 9 is provided with an appropriate annular scale bearingtwenty equally spaced indicia 23 as in the In some instances it is desired toprovide a secondary dial 9 and com'plemental unit and fractional pointers II and I1. arranged tobe viewed from theopposite side of the apparatus with respect to the other dial and its pointers. To make such provision a follow gear 8 is journaled upon a sleeve. l that projects outwardly from the secondary frame 2'. The hub of said' gear extends loosely through the dial 9" and.has secured thereon a unit pointer ll disposed to rotate in front of the dial 9' upon rotation of said gear. A pinion 2|? the hub of which is Journaled in the frame 2' meshes with the follow gear 8' and is axially secured to one end of an extension shaft 20. The opposite end of said shaft extends loose 1y into the collar 22 and is operatively'connected with the drive shaft 2| by means of a universal coupling 20.. The particular construction of said coupling is immaterial as any suitable connection between. the drive shaft 2| and the extensions-bait 2| by which the rotary movement of thefdrive shaft is imparted to the extension shaft without binding of said shafts in their. supports,

will serve the-purpose. ,A disc II is secured on the extension shaft, and a torsional spring 32 is disposed-upon the countershaft with its opposite ends secured respectively to the disc 3| and the collar 22 which serves to take up angular lost motion in the coupling 30. Upon rotation of the drive shaft 20 corresponding movement is imparted to the unit pointer ll through the medium of the extension shaft 20', pinion 2| and the follow gear 8..

A head l2 is'di'sposed with its hub journaled in the sleeve 4', and has secured'upon its outer enda fractional pointer I? that rotates in front of the unit pointer II and the dial 8 upon rotation of said head. The said head has secured axially'therein a second extension shaft H, and the opposite end of said shaft extends loosely into the collar I 3 and is operatively connected with the drive shaft II by means of an universal coupling 33 similar to the previously mentioned.

coupling 30 and by which rotary movement 'of the drive shaft H isimparted to said extension shaft H. A disc .34 is secured on the extension shaft H and a torsional spring 35 is'disposed upon said countershaft with its opposite ends the pointers progress the indications on the one dial correspond precisely with those on the other dial.

Integrating register- A registering device 36 of ordinary construction is mounted in the frame 2, and a suitable sight opening 31 is made in the dial 9 through which the indicating characters on the registerlng may be observed. The registering device is actuated by means of a toothed wheel 38 secured on the stem 39 thereof and which is operrotatable shaft 26. Thus, when the shaft 26 is rotated forwardly the unit and fractional pointers are progressed and the registering device is actuated correspondingly so that the number of units and fractions thereof indicated by the pointers during successive dispensing operations are shown in an accumulatedtotal amount.

Back-set mechanism Mechanism is provided for resetting the unit and fractional pointers back to zero or the point of commencement of their indicating operations which is' desirable, upon completion or before commencement of each dispensing operation, in order that the precise quantity of liquid delivered during each operation may be readily ascertained.

The resetting mechanism is operatively related with the follow gear 8 and the notched wheel 13.

atively engaged by a worm I secured on the a The gear 8 has a series of ratchet teeth 4l--4I and astop lug 42, and said wheel has a similar series of ratchet teeth fl t-4 l and'a stop lug 42".

' A pair of swinging arms 49 are mounted in the frame 2 so as to have turning movement about the axial center of the drive'shaft II, and each arm is connected bya pin 44 with a corresponding bracket 45 that is pivotedly supported by means of a stud 48 on an actuating bar 41. Each of said. brackets is held in normal position by atension'spring 49 the ends of which are conwhich is provided with a hand wheel' 59. By-

mamrally oscillating the shaft 52 the actuating bars 1 are'thereby vertically moved .to and fro causing the arms 43 to turn about the axisof the drive shaft ll through the medium of their corresponding brackets 45. Also, the pawls 49 are moved accordingly as the arms are turn where- 'by back-turning movement of the fo ow gear I and notched wheel 19 is'accomplis (1 through engagement of the pawls 49 respecti ely therewith. The upper end portions of the bars 41 are held apart. by. a suitable spacer 44' that projects frompone of the pins 44 and abuts the'con'esponding pin on the adjacent bar. The bars 41 are held from spreading by the frame members 2 and 5 with which they respectively have sliding contact.

iii

Each. pawl 49 has a weighted extension 49' which causes it to tilt into engaging position when its arm 43 is swung upwardly. However, when said arm is-swung to its lowermost position, the pawl 49 is brought into contact with a cross piece 54 in the frame 2and is thereby tilted out of its engaging position (Fig. 5).

Spring-pressed pawls 55 are disposed in the frame so as to have engagement respectively with the lug 42 on the follow gear 8 and lug 42 on the wheel I3 upon backward rotation thereof and thus limit the backward rotation at a definite point. The lugs 42-42 are so located on said gear and wheel that backward turning movement thereof is stopped by thecorresponding pawls when the respective pointers are returned to the zero or starting point on the dial( The series of ratchet teeth 4| and 4i A and the lug 42 on the follow gear 9 and the teeth li -4F and lug 42 on the wheel I3 are so spaced that when said lugs are engaged by their pawls 55 at stop position, and the arms 43 are moved back to,their lowermost position, the pawls 49 are then out of registry with the corresponding adjacent teeth M or 4| (as in Fig. 5) and are therefore inoperative.

The actuating bars 41 are reciprocated in unison upon manipulation of the arm 5|, their upstrokes being limited by contact with a stop 56 in the frame 2. The brackets 45 tilt respectively upon their studs 46 under restraint-of their springs 48 during the latter portion of the upstrokes of the bars 41 if and only when the corresponding members 8 and I3 are stopped by their own pawls 55. The forward strokes of the pawls are accordingly blocked after the corresponding members reach stop position whereupon the pawls, and not until then, become inoperative. Thus, after one of the members (I or l9) reaches its stop position; upon further action of the bars 41'the other member is progressed until it also reaches stop position so that the pointersare both finally positioned at the startingpoint.

In Figs. 10 and 11 is shown a modified form of the manually-operated mechanism for resetting the pointers. In this form the actuating bars 41 are connected at their lower ends with a crank 59 that is securedupon a shaft 89 mounted in the housing I, and a hand-operated crank ii is secured on the outer end of said shaft by which the shaft is rotated to cause reciprocation of the actuating bars 41. In this instance, the throw of the crank 59 is sufilcient to apply to said bars .upon rotation of the shaft 69 endwlse movement that insure'sjbackturning of the follow gear 8 and the notched wheel I! to their starting points where stopped by the pawls'55.

Operation In practice, the shaft 26 is rotated by'movement imparted thereto by the stem or connection" that is actuated by the meter or other measuring appliance that is progressed more or less according to the amount of liquid delivered through the dispensing apparatus (not shown). As the shaft 28 is revolved thegears 1 and N are thereby turned upon their axes respectively through the medium of the worm wheels 1' and I! on said shaft. Upon rotation of the gears 1 and i9 like movement is imparted to the cornplemental drive shafts H and through the medium of the spring-pressed friction collars l4 and 22. Thus, the fractional pointers l1 and H are rotated directly upon turning of the shaft II, and the unit pointers ill and I0 are rotated upon turningof the drive shaft 29., Also, as the shaft ,28 is rotated the integrating register 36 is progressed through the medium of the gear 99 and the worm wheel-49. Thus, as liquid is delivered through thedispensing apparatus the quantity thereof is indicated in units of measurement and fractions thereof by the pointers on the dials, and is also shown by the register, and in this manner both the operator and the patron is apprised of the quantity of liquid delivered during each instant dispensing operation, and the summation of quantities delivered in a series of dispensing operations. 7

It is desirable that individual patrons are apprised of the quantity of fuel delivered to them as served. For this purpose the provision is made to reset the pointers back to zero or the point of commencement of their indicating operations before delivery. This is accomplished by manipulating the handle of the resetting mechanism.

I claim:--

1. In an indicator having unit and fractional pointers and corresponding rotatable shafts and connected means to operate same, a setback mechanism including a member on each of said shafts rotatable therewith and each having a series of notches and a stop lug, stop pawls disbackturning movement of the corresponding -members at definite points, actuating bars including means for manually operating same simultaneously and provided respectively with a pivoted spring-restrained bracket, each having an actuating pawl operatively engageable with the notches and stop lug of the corresponding member, and a stationary stop to limit'the actuating stroke of said bars.

connected means. to, operate same, a setback "engageable with the corresponding g 2,111 an indicator having unit and pointers and corresponding rotatable shafts andincludingamemberoneachotsaid shafts rotatable therewith and each having a series of notches and a ltu1,'stop pawls disposed to -me said lugs mpectively .to limit backturning movement of the mem-- bers, actuating bars including means for manually operating-same simultaneously and provided mpectively with a pivoted, spring restlained bracket. each having pawl operahly 7 one of said members, a stationary stop to limit the actuating stroke of said bars; and a cross-piece to, interruptengagement oi said actmting pawls with said me bers and limit the opposite of said bars. 4

3. In an indicator having unit and fractional pointers and corresponding rotatable shafts andconnected means to operate same, a setback mechanism including a member on each of said shafts rotatable therewith and each having. a V series of notches and a lug, stop pawls disposed to engage said lugs respectively to limit backturning i and stationary means to limit the stroke of said bars in each direction.

' 2mm i '4, mm indicator having unit pointers and corresponding rotatable shafts and connected means to operate same; a setback m includingamemberon each'ofsaid.

shafts rotatablethercwlthist sawis disposed to have engagement rupectiv'ely with said members.

to definitely limit movementthereof, actuating bars including for manually operating same simultaneously and provided respectivclywith a movable bracket having an actuatinggpa'wl operably env Mable with 0 w-lllll|i members, a stationary stop stroke of said'barsfand means engageable with said actuating pawls to move same into inoperative position upon completion of the retum' strokeofsaidbars.

5. In an indicator rotatable connected means to operate same in one direction, a'setback mechanism including a member vmovable with said rotatable means, a stoppawl disposed to engage and limit backturning movement of said member at a definite point, an actuating bar having means connected therewith for manually operating same, said bar being provided with a' pivoted spring-restrained bracket actuating pawl operably engageable with said memher, a stop to limit the actuating stroke of said bar, and means engageable with said actuating pawl to move same into inoperative position upon completion of the return stroke of said bar.

'BYR N J1 PEPPER; 

